Motor mount and seal for suction cleaners



Oct. 20, 1953 R. E. SHEAHAN MOTOR MOUNT AND SEAL FOR SUCTION CLEAN ERS Filed Feb. 15, 1952 Inventor: Robrt E. Sheahegn,

H i s A'tt or" may.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE MOTOR MOUNT AND SEAL FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Robert E. Sheahan, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Claims.

My invention relates to an arrangement for supporting or mounting a motor in a suction cleaner. More particularly, my arrangement includes a motor mounting element which also serves as an air seal between the high and low pressure sides of the cleaner. Although it will be shown and described in connection with a suction cleaner of the vertical tank or canister type, obviously the invention could b used in connection with cleaners of other types.

The motor and fan unit for a suction cleaner is usually mounted within a casing or housing. One object of my invention is to reduce vibration transmitted to the outer casing of the suction cleaner from the motor and fan unit of the cleaner. This produces a more quiet operating cleaner.

Another object of my invention is to produce a proper seal between the high pressure or outlet side of the cleaner and the low pressure or inlet side of the cleaner. Such a seal is necessary to obtain the maximum suction and operating efilciency from the motor and fan unit and to avoid any air recirculation and consequent reheating which lowers efiiciency of the unit. A further object of my invention is to provide proper air sealing around electrical wires leading to the motor unit of the cleaner from the switch or outside power source. Other objects are to increase the ease of manufacture and assembly of suction cleaners, particularly the motor mounting and sealing.

These objects are met according to my invention by providing a motor mounting gasket of special design, preferably held in place by a ring which may be part of a motor guard member, with an annular web on the gasket sealing around the motor fan unit in a manner which will be described.

Other objects and further details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will be clear from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated a suction cleaner with two examples of gaskets embodying the present invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing a suction cleaner with a. motor mounting and sealing arrangement according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the motor mounting and sealing gasket shown removed from the cleaner; Fig. 3

A cleaner of the character which may use my invention includes a main body portion l which may be of sheet metal having a removable cover 2 detachably held in place on the body as by cover clamps 3. At an appropriate location on the cleaner body, shown here on the cover, a suction inlet fitting 4 is provided for connection to the customary suction hose and attachments which are not shown.

Within the cleaner body is mounted a bag or filter 5 of appropriate character, through which air from the inlet fitting is drawn. For producing a flow of air through the cleaner and through the filter, a suction unit having a motor section 6 and a fan section I is provided. This unit is mounted in the cleaner body in a manner which will be described in detail at a later point. Air from the suction unit is discharged into a central chamber 8, then through an opening 9 into an outer chamber In, and from there the air is discharged through an exhaust opening or slot ll, preferably surrounding the entir cleaner body.

Power is supplied to the suction unit within the cleaner from a suitable power source (not shown) through a usual cord set 12, one end of which is shown where it passes through one wall of the cleaner body. The wiring is connected through a switch l3 which may be actuated by a spring-pressed treadle l4. Motor lead wires l5 extend from the switch to suitable terminals on the motor so that actuation of the switch will connect or disconnect the m0- tor from the power source in a fashion which should be obvious.

In operation of the cleaner, when the motor 6 is started, it drives the fan I so that air will flow into the inlet fitting 4, pass through the filter 5, into the motor 6 through openings IS in the motor frame, through the motor 6, through the fan 1, and out of the fan discharge openings l'l shown here at the end of the fan housing sides. If desired, the fan discharge openings may be provided in the bottom or end wall [8 of the fan housing instead of or in addition to the location shown. Air flow from the chamber 8 to the exhaust slot II is described above.

For the purposes of the present invention, the structures described above may be regarded as conventional or known. The present invention is concerned with improvements in the mounting of the motor and fan unit and in the sealing of this unit between the high pressure and low pressure sides of the cleaner. For this purpose, the cleaner body is provided with a transverse partition or inwardly extending annular wall portion I9 shown here as having two inwardly stepped portions 20 and 2| which receive a motor mounting and sealing gasket 22.

The form of this gasket and its dimensions relative to other parts of the cleaner is extremely 7 important. It will be noted that at the top the gasket has a relativel thin, outwardly extending flange portion 23 with a lower face seated against the step 20 of the annular wall [9. This flange 23 provides the first seal between the suction or low pressure side of the cleaner and the discharge or high pressure side of the cleaner, and it is held and compressed against thestep 20 by means of a metal sealing ring 24. This compression and sealing ring 24 may be and preferably is part of the lower end'of a perforated motor guard and bag support 25, which surrounds the motor section of the suction unit and supports the filter bag 5, This motor guard and bag support with its ring 24may be removly e u t he. an ul r t 21 byt pmie i r fmac n c e s, fiwh h a h gh appropriate clearanceholesin the ring portion 24 and are H threadedly received in corresponding t r do n in heat r. 2.0- Q ceu sa es screwsmust'passthrough matching openings 21 in the gasket flange and I havesho wn six such openings in Fig 2, which illustrates one form of tfiefs sl tfp itsflt. w en th 26 are tightened, the gasket flange}?! is compressed e v' eenlh lin ..a i. e. s tha a effectiveairseal is provided entirely around the gasket. To improve this seal, I may provide the f ie t' d 4 ithe annular de r i 2B d acid iibn thereto rins e si of is i my pa i eea et an w t series of annular ribs 29 on thetop surface of theflange 2'3,"an dsimi lar ribsQil n the bpttom face of, the flange Theseare illustrated in Figs} and 4. Additionally, each one of the screw holes 21 in the gasket may be provided with a surrounding r b, as sho n n Fis- ..Beca i t e entire gasket s. m de @i ubber pi n .zor si resilient compressiblematerial, the ribs2 9, 30 and 3 I will I form effective sealing lines 'when the screws Hare tightened and the ring 24 is pulled d f .912 M,

n ,q ew v a 9 131. i mv he n er edge of heflfla se, 230 h sas e is a i dy portion .3? ch i h ape of, a shal bel ow i rl r- 111 eut i e of this. m n b dy. r qn of the gasket fits, snugly against the inside of theriser portion 33 which extends between the Step 20 a he, e ik e c be t m an th body bf t e asket i et de ai ithl ste t where anaddi'tionals rnall annular sealing rib-34 (see Fig.4) may beprovided if desired. The'in'ner circumference of the main cylindrical body por tion of the gasketsurrounds, but is spaced slightly away from, a motor mounting flange 35, on thelmot or frame or suction unit. The niotor mounting flange 35 is an imperforate ri i f a cir ula prdi i n. w i h t li tents and purposes, isan integral part of the suction unit located between the low pressure and high pressure sides of the suction unit. This flange is carried and supported within the motor mounting gasket'by means of three equally-spaced and inwardly projecting lu'gs'36, 3! and 38'whi'ch are integral with the body '32 of the resilient gasket. Each of these inwardly extending lugs is provided with a slot 39 0f such a depth that when the'motor mounting fi'ange 35 is engaged inzall of the slots 39, the outer edges of "the- 'fiange opening formed by the inner edge of the annular step portion 25 which supports the gasket. Therefore, the motor flange, even at the three spaced places where it is supported, is being supported in shear rather than by compression of the gasket lug at that point. This arrangement supports the 'suction unit firmly, although resiliently, and because of the few points of suspension and the shear support, transmission of vibration from the suction unit to the cleaner casing is considerably reduced. H

Equal provision is made for supporting "the suction unit in shear against "movem'emin an upward direction. Downward force ag'aiiis't'th'e unit is the result of gravitational force or'vfiglit of the unit when the c'zle'aneris at rest. Upward force is the result of the atmospheric pressure difference between the low and high ressure sides of the clean'er "when the suction'uniti's operating, acting on an 'areaequal'to "the Hanzontal cross se'ctional "area fof the iinicat "the motor mounting fiangetil. Consideringtheiibn mal operating Va'cuuni in'thelowpressdre side of the cleaner and the'l'arg'e cr'os's -se'tional'area of the suction unit at the place or seanng; it will be seen'that the "r'sultant'lifting "force'ca ed by the diiferential air pressure may be asmuch as and probably mere 'thanthe gravitational'pull on the unit, and the unit will tend torise 'inits mounting. To "prevent this 'fr'oin happening, I provide an 'annular'step "Z ia'o'n the ring'portion 24 of the'motor guardZS. In'effect, this step 24a is the innermost 'di'azn'eter ofthei'in'gpo'rtion' 24, is the same "as'the diameter 'of theinn'r edgeof 'thesuppo'rting' stepfH, 'a'nd"'is "there-- fore larger'tha'n the diameter of the 'rnotoriflang'e. A resilient'sup'port in shear is therebybbtai'ned at the lugs against upward movemem ofltlie suction unit as well as against downward movement.

In *order' to"reduce'ajfiy' tendency "for "shifting of the gasket verticallyfrhave providdribsflii on top of eachof' the lugs'neartheir ifineredg'es. These abutagains't "but are not compr'es's'dby the underside of the"i' riotorshield"25 wl'iie'nthe screws 26 are tig'hte'nd toconiprss the 'flange 23. "The ribs 40 thus 'lir'r'iit'aiiy excess upward movement of the suction unit due'toliftingforce caused by high pressure'd'i ereiitiafbe'tween the high pfessureand' 1cwpre'ssure"sides -bf"'the cleaner.

The inwardly extending lug""38"on thrrili'fabr gasket "ma 'be "providedwithiii'eans for "sealing the motor lead "v'v'iies IFwhe'i'e they pass from the switch 13 to the" motor 6. Fcf'this nrp-ose, Figs.;1 and 2 show a form in which slots 'dljai'e providedfin the top'of' lug"38 ana-tm-ocgnthe body portionof the gas ket oppositethis lugY'In this form, a portion of the step'20 is eliminated opposite this lug -and-blocks of sponge rubber 4-2 and 43, above and below the'lead wires respectively, are seated in a partial extension '44 of the step 2|. These sponge rubber'blocks 42 and are'held in compression-on either side of the lead wires I5 by the ring portion 24 of the'in'otorshi'eld '25. In the form shown in Figs. 3' and 4, the extension 44 of the step 2! is not required and use of the sponge rubber blocks is eliminated by the provision of holes 45 which extend through the body of the gasket and through the lug 38 from outside to inside, the holes 45 being made of such a size that the wires IE will fit tightly therein when threaded through, without compression of the gasket from outside. Obviously, the riser portion 33 between the steps 20 and 2| is provided with suitable clearance holes for the lead wires in either form shown.

In order to make a final and positive air seal between the high and low pressure sides of the cleaner, the gasket 22 is provided with a downwardly and inwardly extending tapered web 46 shown here as of inverted truncated conical shape. This is preferably made of thin cross section in order 'to reduce the tendency of transmitting vibration and in order to be sure that it seats completely and evenly around the suction unit even though the circumference of the suction unit should vary in manufacture. The inner opening 41 formed by the bottom edge of this web is of a diameter smaller than the smallest expected outer diameter of the fan portion 1 of the suction unit. Therefore, when the suction unit is mounted in the slots in the lugs of the gasket, the edge 41 of the web will resiliently press closely around the entire circumference of the fan housing 1 above the location of the outlets I'l. Because the high pressure side of the cleaner is located below and outside this web 46, during operation of the cleaner the difference in pressure between the two sides of this gasket web will tend to push the web even more closely against the suction unit to seal the two sides of the cleaner from each other.

Although the motor mounting described above will considerably reduce the transmission of vibration from the suction unit to the outer cleaner casing, further noise suppression and sound deadening structure may be used, such as the sound deadening or absorbing materials 48 shown, arranged in the discharge passages of the cleaner.

In assembling the parts of the cleaner, the motor mounting flange 3-5 on the suction unit is first snapped into place within the lugs 36, 31 and 38 of the gasket 22, and the gasket is then seated on the stepped portions 20 and 2| with the holes 2! in proper position and with the motor leads l5 passing through the gasket and out through the hole in the riser portion 33 between steps 20 and 2 I. The motor shield and bag support 25 is then properly placed with the ring portion 24 over the flange 23 of the gasket, and the screws 26 are drawn down tightly and evenly. This completes the motor mounting and seal.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of my invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the examples illustrated, and I contemplate that various and other modifications and applications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, It is therefore my intention that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a suction unit therein, air inlet and outlet ends on the unit, a mount and seal for said unit comprising an annular wall extending inwardly from said casing,

a stepped seat in said wall, a resilient annular gasket fitted in said seat, means sealing said gasket against said seat, spaced lugs on said gasket extending inwardly toward the open center thereof, a mounting flange on said suction unit intermediate its ends, means supporting said mounting flange in said gasket lugs, and a web onsaid gasket surrounding said suction unit and extending inwardly toward and sealing against said unit between its inlet and outlet ends.

2. In a suction cleaner, a casing, a suction unit therein, air inlet and outlet ends on the unit, a mount and seal for said unit comprising an annular wall extending inwardly from said casing, a stepper seat in said wall, a resilient annular gasket fitted in said seat, a sealing flange on the inlet side of said gasket extending outwardly over said seat, means sealing said gasket flange against said seat, a plurality of equally spaced lugs on said gasket extending inwardly toward the open center thereof, a mounting flange surrounding said suction unit intermediate its ends, means supporting said mounting flange in said gasket lugs, and a web on the outlet side of said gasket surrounding said suction unit and extending inwardly toward and sealing against said unit between its inlet and outlet ends.

3. In a suction cleaner, an outer casing, a suction unit therein including a motor, a fan driven by the motor, an air inlet near one end of the unit, an air outlet near the opposite end of the unit, means mounting said unit and providing a seal between said inlet and outlet within said casing comprising an inwardly extending annular wall on said casing, a step on said wall, a resilient gasket with a hollow cylindrical body portion seated in said step, a sealing flange on one end of said gasket extending outwardly over said step, means compressing said gasket flange against said step, spaced lugs on said gasket extending inwardly from said body portion toward the open center thereof, each lug having a slot therein, a circumferential mounting flange on said suction unit seated in said lug slots, and a tapered web on the opposite end of said gasket extending inwardly toward and sealing against the circumference of said suction unit between its inlet and outlet.

4. In a suction cleaner, an outer casing a suction unit therein including a motor, a fan driven by the motor, an air inlet near one end of the unit, an air outlet near the opposite end of the unit, means mounting said unit and providing a seal between said inlet and outlet within said casing comprising an inwardly extending annular wall on said casing, a step on said wall, a resilient annular gasket with a main body portion seated in said step, a thin sealing flange integral with that side of said gasket nearest said inlet, said flange extending outwardly over said step, a compression ring securing said gasket flange to said step, three equally spaced lugs integral with said gasket extending inwardly from said body portion toward the open center thereof, each lug having a slot therein, a circumferential mounting flange on said suction unit seated in said lug slots and spaced from the main body portion of said gasket, and a web integral with that side of said gasket nearest said outlet, said web being in the form of a truncated cone tapering inwardly toward the outlet end of said unit and sealing against the circumference of said suction unit between its inlet and outlet ends.

5. In a suction cleaner, an outer casing, a suction unit therein including a motor, a fan driven byitheimotor, an air inlet near one end .of the unit, an air outlet near the opposite end of the unit, motor lead wires to said motor extending through ,said casing and connected to said motmf, :means mounting said unit and providing a seal between said inlet and outlet within said casing comprising a transverse partition wall in said casing having a central opening therein, an annular step surrounding said central opening, a resilient annular gasket with a hollow cylindrinalrihoxly'portion lseatedin said .-s.tep,;a sealin flan ei i e al with hatsi e .of saidgask tn arst :said in et said flange extending outwardly vfi i ai i n, a motor shield having ammpresn fir a i wee-s curin said gasket flange o aid st p .qii ly spa ed lu s on said asket extend n nwardly fr m s id .body p rtion tawa d th open-.centerith neof each lug having azslotzth rein, a c r umferential mounting name on said suction unit seated in said lug .slo'ts,va passageway for said .motor lead wires extending through one of said. gasket lugs and through said gasket body portion, said wires being located within said passageway, and a web onuthat side of said gasket nearest vsaid outlet, said webextending inwardly toward and sealing against the circumference of said suction unit Ebetween -its inlet and outlet ends.

.iROBERT 'E.

References Cited 7111313118 file of gthjS patent UNITED STATES PATEN--IS 

